I had to wait a little while to put my plan into action, but I decided that was for the best. It gave me longer to talk the others into it.
Willow, in particular, wasn’t happy with the plan. ‘It doesn’t sound very dignified,’ she said.
‘And I don’t understand why we have to do it at all,’ Vulcan added. ‘Can’t the humans solve their own problems?’
‘Sarah’s been kind to us all,’ Candy put in. ‘We should be kind to her too.’
‘But she’s staff,’ Vulcan whined. Apparently he was never going to get over that distinction.
‘She’s my friend,’ I said firmly. ‘And we are going to help her. And this is how.’
We decided to wait until dinner time to put the plan into action, working on the theory that everything is easier on a full stomach. Plus, feeding us was usually Sarah’s last duty of the day, and I was pretty sure Oliver would have finished work by then, too. It was all coming together perfectly.
But then something else cropped up to disrupt our plans.
‘Good news! You all get a nice brush and a wash after dinner, ready for Her Majesty coming home tomorrow.’ Sarah was trying to sound cheery, I could tell, but she wasn’t doing a very good job. The final, official confirmation that the Queen would definitely be back at the Palace the next day wasn’t doing wonders for my mood, either.
Candy and I exchanged a glance. I gave a small shake of my head to say, not now. It would have to wait until after the other three at least were all clean and tidy. Then I’d have the perfect chance to put my plan into action. (The fact it might also get me out of yet another grooming session was just an added bonus.)
Sarah took each of us out, one by one, to be bathed, clipped, brushed and dried. Given that we’d all been fully pampered at the parlour just a few days before, I hoped that it wouldn’t take too long. But still, I spent every moment, every second, tense, waiting to put my plan into action. To fix things for Sarah, at last.
Finally, it was my turn. Sarah approached me, my lead in her hand, ready to walk me to where the groomer had set up. As she got closer, I gave the other dogs the nod. ‘You all know what to do.’
Sarah leaned down to clip the lead to my collar and I waited, waited, waited … Now!
The moment she was just about to clip it on, when she was already engaged in bending down so she couldn’t get back up again too quickly, I dodged out of her way and ran for it.
‘Henry! Henry!’ I could just make out her calling my name over the sound of Willow, Candy and Vulcan all barking at the same time. They’d keep Sarah occupied, I knew – just long enough to give me a head start. I didn’t want to get too far ahead, or how would Sarah know where to chase me? But I also knew my legs weren’t long enough to outrun her without a little bit of help.
The barking died down, and I knew that Sarah must be on my tail. Now, the other dogs just had to keep the rest of the staff distracted. The last thing I needed was another member of staff deciding to help out by scooping me up before I got to my planned destination.
Keeping my head down, I raced through the state rooms, not even glancing up at any of the staff dodging out of my way. I didn’t have time to worry about them right now.
‘Henry!’ I heard one of them call, indignantly.
‘That blasted corgi,’ another one muttered. ‘Why did she have to take in another one, anyway?’
In the Blue Drawing Room, I crashed straight into two footmen carrying a giant display of festive greenery, sending white candles and red holly berries flying everywhere. I barked an apology and kept running, even as I heard them yell my name after me.
It was nice to know that everyone in the Palace had got to know me, at least. After ten days in the Palace, apparently I’d made quite an impression. Although I couldn’t see any of them speaking up for me with the Queen, right now …
Then I was in the State Dining Room, ducking under tables and chairs and weaving between legs, desperately trying not to get stood on. I had no more time to worry about what the Queen would think; Sarah was what mattered most now.
Glancing back over my flanks, I saw Sarah dashing after me, and gaining fast. I needed to move.
I ducked through a doorway, and then another and another and soon I was in the private parts of the Palace. I was sure the staircase I was looking for was around here somewhere …
There!
I’d only been up to the staff corridor twice, but that was enough. Finding Oliver’s room, though, that was a little harder. Still, I’ve found that if you bark long and loud enough, eventually everyone will come out to find out what all the noise is about. One by one, the doors to the staff bedrooms opened, as footmen and kitchen staff stared at me – or shouted, depending on their natures.
‘Henry?’ Oliver stood in the open door to his bedroom, looking at me with confusion. ‘What are you—’
I darted between his legs and grabbed a lone shoe from where it sat by his wardrobe. Then I ran again, knowing he’d have to follow me. Oliver was very particular about his clothes, I’d noticed, and his shoes were always perfectly shiny. He wouldn’t risk me destroying one of them – any more than Amy would let me run off with one of her best high heels!
Back down the staircase I flew, fast enough that I could race past Sarah and be ahead again before she even realised what was happening.
‘Henry!’ she called after me. ‘Come back here! It’s only a bath, for heaven’s sake!’
Then I heard another crash, and a thud.
Screeching to a halt, I spun to check that she was okay.
Oliver had obviously caught up faster than I’d anticipated. He and Sarah were sitting practically on top of each other, tangled up at the bottom of the stairs, after what must have been a pretty spectacular crash.
I stayed long enough to hear Oliver ask, ‘Are you okay?’ and Sarah respond, ‘We need to catch Henry.’
They were fine. And so, I ran again.
Back through the hallways, back to the State Rooms, back through the tables and chairs and legs, treading on a few stray holly berries on my way.
As I reached the Grand Staircase, I dodged to one side to avoid hitting a footman, and accidentally caught my collar on the edge of a green garland, twined through the bannister.
‘Henry!’ I heard Sarah call behind me. There wasn’t time to unravel myself, so I kept running – straight into a tall, balding man in a grey suit.
‘What in heaven!’ The man turned to try and see what had hit him, but unfortunately that just helped the garland to wrap around him further.
‘Your Royal Highness!’ Oliver cried, pausing to help unwrap what I realised, a little late, must be one of the Royal Family, here for the lunch. Oops.
Shaking the garland free, I kept running, just a little slower to make sure I didn’t lose Sarah and Oliver. Sure enough, in a few moments they were right behind me again.
My plan was nearly complete. I had Oliver and Sarah together again, working for a common cause – catching me. All I had to do now was get them exactly where I needed them.
I screeched to a halt as I reached the Grand Hall, right by the main entrance. I was panting hard from my exertions, but I knew it had all been worth it. Outside the Palace, snow was just starting to fall, flakes of fluffy white sparkling in the Christmas lights, against the blackness of the night. It was a perfect winter evening – and perfect for romance.
Glancing up, I saw exactly what I was looking for – what I’d seen when I’d explored this area on one of my first days at the Palace. Mistletoe. Even a dog knew what that meant.
Sarah and Oliver ran in behind me, both a little out of breath, and stopped at my side.
‘Henry! What were you thinking?’ Sarah scolded, even as she kneeled at my side to make sure I was okay.
I sat still, and stared up at the ceiling.
‘What’s he looking at?’ Oliver asked, frowning.
They both followed my gaze, and I knew the moment they spotted it, because Sarah’s cheeks turned pink, and Oliver started to smile.
‘I think he’s trying to hint at something,’ Sarah said, still looking at the huge bunch of mistletoe hanging overhead.
Oliver took a step back. ‘I don’t think that would be appropriate. I mean, under the circumstances. Given that you’re, well, back with your ex—’
‘But I’m not!’ Sarah protested. ‘I don’t know what you heard, or saw, or whatever, but David and me – that’s over. Completely. And that’s what I told him when he came to see me. My life is here now.’
‘Really?’ Oliver moved closer. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Surer than I’ve ever been about anything.’ Sarah smiled up at him, and Oliver returned it.
I waited, patiently. I knew what came next. It happened in all the movies I watched with Amy and Claire. Mistletoe plus snow plus confessions from the heart equalled …
Slowly, tentatively, Oliver dipped his head to Sarah’s level. Placing a hand under her chin, he tilted her mouth towards his, and kissed her.
I smiled.
This was why I’d come to Buckingham Palace, even if I’d not known it at the time.
My work here was done. I could leave without worrying about Sarah.
Leaving the two of them kissing under the mistletoe, with the lights from the three Christmas trees twinkling all around them, I headed back up to the Corgi Room. I wanted to spend one more night in my basket, with the dogs who had become my friends – or at least, in Vulcan’s case, no longer my enemies – all around me.
Tomorrow, the Queen would be here.
And who knew what would happen then?